Oxfam researcher John McGrath visits a village in Senegal, well off the national grid, that has a wind turbine, towering above the baobabs, and a plane of solar panels. Cables lead off to every house and people pay any one of four tariffs, based on how much power they use. The result?
McGrath says there's a new pride, people talk about a “revival of the town”, young people who'd left for the capital are coming back, and people from surrounding areas are moving in, buying land and building houses.
McGrath writes: "A building boom was visibly in progress."
See also: Practical Action's report highly relevant to Ashden winners and Helping to lift people out of poverty also helps cut carbon emissions
Friday, 10 December 2010
In a Senegal village, one wind turbine leads to a "building boom"
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1 comment:
I was struck by the positive impact of energy access on a community to galvanise change, and yet, it is clearly highlighted that this isn't the only thing that is needed: for instance lights for students to study combine with a new and inspiring teacher to improve exam results.
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